Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Moose Jaw: Gong Show #2

HOLY... Nearly everyone who has written me has commented on the weather.   YES, it is -40 with windchill (and -40 is the same thing in both Celsius and Fahrenheit by the way), but honestly, it doesn't feel any colder than Utah.  Probably because I'm in it for less periods of time than when I used to ski.  And I do have a crazy coat and Assault BOOTS!!! rated for -25 C weather.  (plus, my ULTRA THICK Canadian tights).

Yesterday was another one of those moments when people say nice things across the pulpit that makes me think, "Oh... I AM loved."  One of the Moose Jaw Young Women is 17 and super sarcastic.  She says rude things to Sister Rush and I all the time.  I don't think they are meant to be as rude as they sound... but yeah.  Let's just say I thought everyone in my ward liked me to some extent except her.  But yesterday in her talk she mentioned how all of us were like family, even the missionaries.  She went on to say that she was a little leary when she heard Sisters were coming because she's never had a sister (like real life sister), and that it was really weird when we came to her house for the first time and we hugged her, but she's discovered having sisters isn't so bad after all and that she looks up to us.  Awe!!!!!


That's what makes Moose Jaw so great.  It really is like family here.  Between Brother Kronebush poking you in the side and Brother Johnstone sticking your face in the drinking fountain it's pretty much the best.  Or brother Johnstone and sister Larson (who are both grown adults mind you) poking each other and throwing candies at each other in the middle of ward coorelation to the point where our ward mission leader (the most excellent Brother Bachiu) has to put them at separate corners of the table.  I don't know any other wards I've been in where parents pick up other parents' teenage kids and throw them over their shoulders.  Maybe that's why we love each other so much.  This ward is like one big party of constant harassment.  :)  LOVE IT.


As for the miracles this week, another one of our great miracles is due to our ward members.  We had our Ward Christmas party and whewy.... I ran around that gym like a mad-woman talking with everyone while Sister Rush entertained Jesse by playing chess...  Finally the last set of people that I talked with (there were a TON of people there) was a family that the Lowry's brought.  The conversation was going really well and I asked them for a referral of who they knew I could share a message about Christ with and he said, "Honestly, we would."  YES!!!!!  Just goes to show that when you talk with everyone, pray like crazy, and work to see those miracles they come.  Faith. In. Action.  Boom.  We have been praying to teach a family for forever and we are meeting with them on Wednesday!


We are also still having great spiritual experiences with Jesse.  Every time we go over, the spirit is SO strong.  We were a little unsure whether he was a real investigator or if he was just in it for the social experience, but when we went in we were very upfront and just talked about baptism and what he thought about it.  I think the reason we can be so upfront is because we are friends.  Something I am truly learning on my mission from both experiences with investigators, members and missionaries is that if you want people to trust you, they need to know that you love them.  I think after my mission I will be so much better at showing love than I was before.  I used to be afraid of showing my vulnerability because I needed to know that people loved me back.  People can be so harsh and my heart has had a lot of hurt throughout life... but honestly, everyone needs love and wants love so just share it with the world and don't be afraid!  True charity and true love is caring about people no matter what they think about you.


So that's my week!  Lots of good stuff.. And I was in my area for the whole week which was amazing! Plus we got transfer calls... it's official I'm staying here and killing off the Rush!  (As of Friday we will be the STLs over the whole mission until President gets inspiration on who the new ones will be...  so that's not intimidating... at all...)


In the mean time,
Much love from Sister Heidi Hill

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